Umbrella.



No. 839,473. PATBNTED DEC. 25, 1906 H. B. GRA.

v UMBRBLLA.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1906.

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6. A WOR/V516 HERNANDO B. GRA, ,OF COLUMBUS, TEXAS.

UMBRELLA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 190e.

Application filed July 3l, 1.906. Serial No. 328,542.

.to be carried by the body of the person so as to leave the handsfreefor work.

rl `he principal objects of the invention are to increase the utility and lightness of the device, to insure comfort to the wearer, and

to improve and simplify the constructionA and operation general y.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foldable umbrella, so that the same can be knocked down, so as to occupy little space when not in use. j

With these objects in view and others, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts7 which will be more fully described hereinafter, and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one of the embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the umbrella. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the umbrella-top, part of the cloth covering thereof being broken away. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the body-frame. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end view of the hinged ends of the umbrella rim-sections.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughout by'similar characters of reference.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the central bow or rib of the umbrella proper. This is preferably made of wood of suitable strength and steamed and bent to the proper shape. The rim of the umbrella-top is constructed of two semi-elliptical strips of metal of suitable stiffness and prefera ly of flat cross-section. These strips (designated by 2) are secured, as by soldering, to overlapping elongated diamond-shaped plates 3, the plates being perforated to receive screws f1 for mounting the rims on the central rib. The ends of the diamond-shaped plates are provided with tongues 5, that are of substantially the same cross-section as the elliptical rims, and they are adapted to overlap the rims, so that suitable retaining devices, such as rings 6, may be engaged over the tongue and'hold the elliptical members of the rims in extended position. Adjacent each tongue the rims are provided with stops 7 for preventing the rings from having too great a movement when they are disengaged from the tongues. The ends of the middle rib 1 are reinforced by ferrules 9, so that the driving of the screws or other retaining means for hinging the two elliptical sections together will not split or weaken the rib.

The elliptical strips 2 are braced at a number of points by steel-wire ribs 10. The end ribs are attached to the middle rib by means of thimbles 11, having eyes 12, and the middle wire ribs are secured to eyes 13 on the coupling 14. The outer ends of the wire ribs are turned at right angles, so as to form hooks 15, that loosely engage in eyes 16, provided on the inner surface of the elliptical strips 2. This construction permits the steel ribs tobe unhooked for folding the elliptical strips together. The cover 17 may be made of any suitable material and is preferably composed of segments S, that follow the general disposition of the wire ribs. These segments .are stitched together. The edge of the resulting cover is sewed around its edges to the rim-strips 2 and is tacked down the center to the middle rib 1. When the wire ribs are extended and hooked to the rim, the covering'is maintained stretched.

The umbrella is supported on the body of the wearer by means of a bodyT gear or frame 18 and a standard 19 adjustable on the bodyframe and adjustably carrying the umbrella. The body-frame comprises an upright strip of wood 18, having waist-embracing arms 20 and shoulder-embracing arms 21. These arms are preferably made of suitably-stiff metal rods having a straight central portion and perforated to receive an attaching-screw 22 or equivalent means. The arms of the waist-embracing portion of the body-frame are curved outwardly in opposite directions in a horizontal plane, and the forward ends thereof are turned into eyes 23 to receive straps having buckles whereby the bodygear can be securely fastened to the body. The top arms are curved into loops that are disposed to incline oppositely at a slight angle to a horizontal plane, so as to adapt the arms to rest on the body of the wearer IOO lIO

fthe desire I of the wearer. 4held on the standard'fbyzmeans of a thumbjust opposite the lower cervical vertebra and extend around and lightly clasp the base of the neck in order that the Wei ht be brought t0 bear entirely on the muso es and not in contact 'With the bony portions of the body. This adds materially to the comfort of the user and avoids one of the most important objections to the body-frames heretofore proposed. On the rear of the upright member 18 of the body-frame is asocket 24, Which receives thelo'Wer end oflthe standard `19. The socket is provided-With a clamping- -screW 25, thatI engages the standard andfper- 'mits the latter tobe raisedor lovveredto any desired height.

' The standard 19 is preferably made of Wood of suitable toughness and hasv its upper end curved on a relatively llarge radius. This curved portion is formed by steaming ythe Wood andbendingit While'steamed, as Will be readily=understood- The curved endv is provided with aplurality of spacedv apertures 26 for the reception of a bolt 27 on=the coupling member 14. .By means of l=the -spaced apertures `the vumbrella can be adajusted to a high or lowposition onX the curved portion of thestandard and at-thesame time tiltedto agreater or less. angle, `accordingto The umbrella is nut 28, screwing onthebolt 27. `Thel coupling member 14 is bifurcated at its up er. end soasto receive between the bifurcat1onsi29 thereof the :middle `rib 1. The vcoupling 'member andrib are rigidly secured-together in any approved manner. The rcoupling member -is also preferably constructed of Wood. The object of v,employing yWoodfor the .various parts, as described, is to obtain the requisite :lightness With strength. .In

practice I havefoundthat aniumbrella constructed on the yideas above set forth has VWeighedless than a pound and a half complete, the cover oftherumbrella beinglfortyfour inches in-length` andthirty-four inches in Width and adapted for ythe use intended.

'From Vthe-foregoing description, taken in connection yWith the accompanying drawings, the advantages ofthe constructiongand of the method ofV operation Will be `readily appreciated by those skilledin the fartzto which theainvention appertains. The construction of 'the device, While `being eX- tremely light, is rigid and substantial, soas `to Veasilystandthe effects of ordinary 'Winds and rain. It Will be seen that the device can be adjusted-in an easy and simple manner-to suit thev requirements of each individual case.

I have described the-'principle of operation ofthe invention, together With'the apparatus,-Which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, but yI desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative and t at various changes may be made, When desired, as are Within the scope of the invention.

The shoulder embracing arms 21 and Waist-embracin arms 20 being secured,re

bers arranged =in overlapping `relation at their ends, means for hinging therims on` the rib, supplemental lribs extending Lfrom Xthe main rib f to the -members rings .arranged 1to engage the overlapping ends of therim members to hold the latter'inopen position and stopson the members.`for limiting the: movement offtherings.

2. In. adevicevof lthe class described, the combination of a central rib,I a couplingfrigidly attached thereto at a= pointl intermediate the ends, a pairA ofy curved rim members .var-

ranged With? their ends.A overlapping; andr each comprisingr a single: piece of- Wire of'iiat crosssection, af pivot on each yextremity of@ the-rib for attaching the overlapping; ends of'thelrib membersthereto, rings onthe overlapping portions of the said members,.auxiliary1ribs yextending fromtthemainvrib to the rim members .for bracing ithe Llatter, a covering lse- IOO cured'to;the mainfrib vand rim-members, va

standardfhaving a curved portion, zrand an adjustable connectionbetvveenA the coupling andthe curved portion ofthe standard.

3. Inra device ofthe class described, the combinationl of an umbrellahaving a central rib, a coupling member-bifurcated atits up- Iper end 'to .embrace ythe rib, a yperforated standard, .a'bolt onthe coupling member adjustable in the perforationsofithe standard, and a body-frameto'whichzthe standard is .adjustably connected. Y

ln. testimonythat fl claim the.- foregoingas my own l have hereto aixed. my signature inthe presence of1 tWo Witnesses.

HEltNANDO B.GRA.

Vitnesses:

Jos. V.\FRUKA, CHAs. J.'G.LEEsEMANN. 

